Polikarpov Po-2 / Do-2. Specifications. A photo.

Soviet aircraft manufacturers started designing aircraft model Polikarpov Po-2 20 in the first half-years of the last century. The new aircraft has been multi-purpose, and because of that has been very popular, although the actual operating and operated aircraft of this model almost did not survive to the present day.

The aircraft model Polikarpov Po-2, in its essence is the first commercially producing aircraft designed in the Soviet Union - for the entire period of production, domestic aircraft builders managed to build more than 40 thousand aircraft.

In the civil aviation sphere, the Polikarpov-2 airplane was used as a training tool, for transporting people on short-haul routes, for carrying out patrolling jobs, for shipping mail, as an agricultural aircraft, etc. In the military sphere, the Polikarpov-2 airplane could be used not only for all of the above, but also as an independent combat unit, and although the aircraft did not have great reliability in its combat application, it was the simplicity of production and the absence of a large number of costs that played an important Role in its military exploitation.

Photo Polikarpov Po-2

The first flight of the aircraft model Polikarpov Po-2 held in January 1928 years and due to the fact that the aircraft quite successfully coped with all the necessary tests, in the same year started and mass production of the aircraft of this model, and although the exact number of produced aircraft remains unknown, according to official figures, have been built, at least, 40 thousand copies of the aircraft.

On board the multipurpose biplane model Polikarpov Po-2 can accommodate up to two people at the same time, in addition to the transport of persons, aircraft can also carry and transport small cargoes, however, in this case, the maximum constituting 890 kilogram takeoff weight of an aircraft, can not be exceeded however, in addition there is also a number of limitations on the size of the received cargo board.

Biplane model Polikarpov Po-2 equipped with piston power plant, consisting of one, which is located in front of the engine brand Shvetsov M-11, which is having a traction capacity of 100 hp, the aircraft provides an opportunity to overcome the distances to 400 kilometers, while cruising speed of flight of the aircraft is 140 km \ h., which is considered quite acceptable in view of the period of production aircraft.

Aircraft Polikarpov Po-2

Production of the aircraft Polikarpov Po-2 was carried out by Soviet aircraft manufacturers in the following variants:

Polikarpov U-2 - The basic production version of the airplane;

Polikarpov U-2A - agricultural version of the aircraft;

Polikarpov U-2AO - analogue version Polikarpov U-2A;

Polikarpov U-2AP - An improved version of the aircraft Polikarpov U-2A;

Polikarpov U-2ZH - A pilot version of the aircraft;

Polikarpov U-2KL - An improved version of a multi-purpose aircraft;

Polikarpov U-2LSH - The military version of the aircraft to be used as a light attack aircraft;

Polikarpov U-2LPL - An experimental version of the aircraft;

Polikarpov U-2M - Modification, a float-equipped chassis;

Polikarpov U-2P - An improved version of the version Polikarpov U-2M;

Polikarpov U-2S - Medical version of the aircraft;

Polikarpov U-2SS - An improved version of analogue Polikarpov U-2S;

Polikarpov U-2SHS - Four-bed version of the aircraft;

Polikarpov U-2SP - The civilian version of the aircraft used for the transportation of passengers and goods;

Polikarpov U-2SPL - The luxury version of the aircraft, capable of carrying an onboard up to three people;

Polikarpov U-2UT - Trainer version of the aircraft;

Polikarpov U-2LNB - The military version of the attack aircraft adapted for night attacks;

Polikarpov U-2VS - Training version of the aircraft;

Polikarpov U-2NAK - A special military version of the plane;

Polikarpov Po-2 - Postwar trainer version of the aircraft;

Polikarpov Po-2A - analogue version Polikarpov U-2A;

Polikarpov Po-2L - An analog version of the post-war Polikarpov U-2SPL;

I was interested in the question - how did you find your way home at night? looked equipment Po-2. Primitive. Was the radio station or not? Or just an intercom? But after all, up to a dozen sorties in the night did !!!